Lecture 1: Alzheimer’s Disease Flashcards
What do all different dementias have in common?
They all involve mis-processed proteins in neural cells that cause problems in signalling and brain structure formation.
What is the first symptom of Alzheimer’s disease?
Loss of recent memory and inability to store recent information in long term memory as the hippocampus is the first area to be affected.
At what stage of Alzheimer’s do elements of personal history start being forgotten? Early, middle or late?
Middle.
Which structure in the brain is first affected other than the hippocampus?
The amygdala.
What are the two main hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease?
Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
Do amyloid plaques form intracellularly or extracellularly?
Extracellularly.
Are amyloid plaques present in individuals who don’t have Alzheimer’s?
Yes. Just much less.
Where are neurofibrillary tangles found?
Inside the cytoplasm of neurons.
Are there more amyloid plaques or tau pathology in the hippocampus?
Tau pathology.
